Car Rental at Nashville International Airport

Airport travel guide

The capital of both the state of Tennessee locally and country music globally, Nashville is a fascinating place to visit. Many of its landmarks are connected to the most American genre of music, but even if you don’t care for the country, the city still has plenty going on for you to have a memorable trip. These are three of Nashville’s most interesting attractions:

• Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. The number one Nashvillian landmark, the hall of fame will be a highlight of any trip to the city. In addition to the photographs, films, and records that are on display, it also frequently hosts live performances and other public events. Located in a centrally located, purpose-built structure, it resembles a giant bass clef if seen from the air. Visit its official website to purchase tickets and learn more. Related landmarks include the Johnny Cash Museum & Cafe, Musicians Hall of Fame & Museum, and National Museum of African American Music.
• Buchanan's Station. A former bunkhouse and way station dating back to the 1780s, the Buchanan’s is one of the most notable historical landmarks in all of Tennessee. Located at an intersection of an old indigenous route and a buffalo trail, it played an important role in the Cherokee–American wars. The station is located about 6 miles (10 km) southeast of downtown and can be reached by car in about 15 minutes.
• Parthenon. Located in the popular Centennial Park that’s just west of the city center, this impressive structure is one of the very few full-size replicas of the original Athenian Parthenon anywhere in the world. Owing to Nashville’s nickname, Athens of the South, it was built for the Centennial Exhibition that took place in 1897. A beloved landmark to this day, it now hosts a small, but interesting art museum that has works by many notable Tennesseans and other American artists. 

Top international routes

• London-Heathrow
• Toronto-Pearson
• Cancun

Main airlines

Southwest carries about half of the passengers at Nashville Airport. The airline serves destinations across the United States in addition to Cancun.

Delta is the next most popular airline at the airport. Its most popular route is to its main hub in Atlanta from which passengers can transfer to Delta flights to countless destinations.

American is the third most popular airline serving Nashville. Its most popular route is between the city and Dallas/Fort Worth, its main hub.

Other low-cost airlines besides Southwest serving the airport are Allegiant, Frontier, and Spirit. Spirit is currently in the process of adding routes, with service on at least four new routes scheduled to begin in 2020.

Terminals

The single terminal at Nashville International is called the Robert C. H. Matthews Jr. Terminal. The terminal has three concourses with a total of 42 gates, though a fourth concourse is set to open in 2020 with six more gates. The terminal has three levels: a ground transportation level, a level for arrivals which includes baggage claim, and a level for ticketing and departures.

Air Canada, United, and Spirit use Concourse A. American and Southwest use Concourse C. All other airlines operate from Concourse B.

Location

The airport is roughly 8 miles east of downtown Nashville. To reach downtown, just take I-40. BNA also serves the wider area of central Tenessee. For example, Murfreesboro is just 30 miles from the airport along I-24. Further destinations in southern Kentucky and northern Alabama are also within a couple hours’ drive from the airport.

Most popular types of rental car

• Large cars - from NOK 628 per day
• Premium cars - from NOK 613 per day
• SUVs - from NOK 603 per day
• Small cars - from NOK 631 per day
• Medium cars - from NOK 641 per day
• Vans - from NOK 1,059 per day

Car rental desks

The car rental desks for all of the rental companies serving the airport are located in the ground transportation center which is one level below baggage claim. BNA has a consolidated car rental facility just across from the terminal. Once you receive your rental agreement and keys, proceed to it to pick up your vehicle. It is about 100 yards from the terminal and there are moving walkways to assist you in the journey. You will also return the vehicle to the rental car facility when returning to the airport.

Services and facilities

Nashville International is medium size airport and has all of the services and amenities one would expect of such.

With Nashville being a city known for music, the airport organizes live music yea-round to greet travelers. Almost every weekday there are live performances of local musicians. The airport also brings art to the airport. There are constantly different exhibitions that passengers can take in while waiting for their flight.

If you want to relax, there is an American Airlines Admirals Club in Concourse C and a Delt Sky Club in Concourse B. And while there is no hotel at the airport, there is a cluster of them located just north of I-40.

Finally, no traveler will go hungry or thirsty. There are dining options in all terminals and in a food court of sorts between Concourses B and C. in addition to typical fast-food chains, the airport offers local Nashville favorites including Tenessee Brew Works and Yazoo Brewery. The airport plans to add even more local options starting in 2020.

Nearest gas station

Filling up before returning a rental car to Nashville Airport is more difficult than at other airports. There are gas stations just north of I-40 along Donelson Pike. If traveling from the east, these are very convenient. However, if traveling from the west, they are difficult to reach as you can only exit I-40 to the south. A better alternative is to exit I-40 at Briley Parkway heading south (exit 215A) where you’ll find a Phillips 66 station. From there, you could get back to I-40 and the rental return area of the airport is just 2.6 miles away.